Brooklyn Bridge 125th Anniversary (Suck it, Bridge Nazis)

It was designed by German immigrant and engineer John Roebling, who built almost a dozen suspension bridges in his career, including this one in Cincinnati, and this one in Waco Texas. (fun Dave in Texas fact: I took a leak off the Waco bridge in '78*).

But the Brooklyn bridge was his largest, having a span of 1595 feet, almost 600 feet longer than the Cincinnati bridge.

Roebling began the construction but was injured in an accident (foot crushed by an arriving ferry while he was on the dock), and 24 days later died from infection. His son Washington Roebling took over the project, and it was completed in 1883. On opening day there were two parades, an hour long fireworks show, and a visit from President Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States. I remember he was 21st cause of that construction guy in Die Hard with a Vengeance who knew Chester was the 21st President and also the Customs Collector for the Port of New York even though that wasn't part of the clue from Jeremy Irons.